“Leadership shouldn’t feel this hard”

I had a leader in a recent coaching session say:

“Leadership shouldn’t feel this hard.”

It’s not the first time I’ve heard it.
And won’t be the last.

I meet many smart, capable leaders who are tired.
They are doing everything “right.”

But leading still feels heavy.

Here’s the thing:
Leadership is hard.
But it shouldn’t feel this hard.

Not all the time.

When it does, it’s usually a sign that something’s off.
And it often comes down to a few things.

Too much doing, not enough thinking.
Too little support, too many expectations.
Misaligned roles, unclear goals, or broken systems.

The fix isn’t pushing through.
It’s pausing.

So the next time you find yourself in this position, stop.

And take 10 minutes to reflect on the following:
➡️ What’s making this harder than it needs to be?
➡️ Where am I carrying things I should be sharing?
➡️ What needs to shift? For me and for my team?

You’ll begin to find clarity to move forward.

And if you’re still stuck, reach out.
I’m here to help.